Local charities recognised at prestigious awards ceremony

CYP Yellow Door and the Klimax Family Hub in Southend are among several organisations who received recognition at the annual High Sheriff’s Awards for their outstanding work helping to transform lives and improve community safety in the County. Over 250 guests attended this year’s ceremony, held at Hylands House in Chelmsford, where trophies, certificates and 30 grants totalling £162,000 were presented by the High Sheriff of Essex, David Hurst.

The event was supported by Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.  Presenters Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt supported the event by compering and interviewing the trophy winners and other guests, with conversations shared by Sadie Nine on her Saturday morning show on BBC Essex.

The grants came from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, and other community safety focussed funds, all of which are managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

Klimax Family Hub provide holistic support to young people aged 8-19 years from African communities in Southend. Funding of £5,000 will support their ongoing work including a ‘Young People Mental Health Support’ project.

Kemi Tomide-Johnson, Founder and CEO of Klimax Family Hub, said:

“KLIMAX Family Hub are grateful for this grant, which has significantly increased our ability to support young people facing challenges such as family breakdown, migration and school issues. This funding has allowed us to expand our Youth Hub activities, offering more opportunities for young people to develop skills, engage in community activities and build meaningful connections. It also supports our efforts in fostering resilience, integration and positive outcomes for families.

“We extend our thanks to the High Sheriff of Essex, David Hurst, and all those who made this possible. The funding has improved access to mental health support and facilitated shared learning with other projects, helping young people thrive and build stronger relationships with their peers.”

CYP Yellow Door received funding of £5,000 to support outreach youth work for those at risk of anti-social behaviour in Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh.

They also celebrated a big win, taking home the coveted Essex Police Cup. The award recognises the contribution of voluntary organisations working in the community. The team were congratulated by Chief Constable of Essex Police, BJ Harrington, as well as the High Sheriff.

Alex Hawkins, CEO of CYP Yellow Door said:

“We are delighted! It was such a surprise, and we are very honoured to win the Cup.

“The money is going towards our outreach and detach work, mainly around the parks and areas around Benfleet, to deliver sports and activities to young people.”

Also receiving support for their work around Southend are:

• Southend YMCA £5,470: Continued employment of Youth Workers helping young people out on the streets of Southend to access support and advice SVP Southend £4,550: Towards the cost of helping people who are homeless, struggling financially or experiencing mental health or addiction problems in Southend
• Bar n Bus Trust £8,382: To help deliver community and school-based youth work in Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford districts.
• Together Free Foundation £8,378: To help with operational costs and ensure victims of modern slavery and human trafficking receive quality care.
• KAOS Youth Club, £4,000: Towards the running costs of an organisation providing support and diversionary activities for young people in Rochford.

David Hurst DL, the 844th High Sheriff of Essex, has travelled across the County during the year, visiting charities that are tackling a wide range of issues and helping people in their community. He has learned about their work and met with many volunteers, presenting them with certificates to recognise and acknowledge their commitment and dedication.

He said:

“On my travels around the County, I have seen first-hand how charities are needing to balance paying their bills, alongside an increasing demand for their services. Also, just how important volunteers are to so many organisations and I would encourage everyone to consider how they may be able to support their local community in this way.

“The Awards event provides a wonderful opportunity for me, and other attendees, to recognise the significant contribution that charities and voluntary groups make in our communities. It is a privilege to be able to reward their outstanding work, and that of the wider voluntary sector, being undertaken in Essex that is helping to build and sustain safer communities”.

Trophies presented on the night were:

• The Essex County Council Bowl which recognises voluntary organisations that work in partnership to deliver programmes, was awarded to Sanctus which is based in Chelmsford and delivers a range of support to homeless and vulnerable people, including 1-2-1 mentoring and counselling, working with housing providers, mental health support and other local organisations.
• The organisation presented with the coveted High Sheriff’s Shield was YMCA Essex in Colchester for their outstanding work helping young people aged 16-25 to develop their skills, potential and life chances.
• The High Sheriff’s Cup, which recognises community support that makes Essex a safer place to live, was awarded to CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), based in Colchester, to continue providing a range of specialist services to survivors of sexual violence or child abuse.
• The Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Shield, which recognises an organisation’s work with young people, went to Braintree Youth Project, for their work with vulnerable young people, at risk of exploitation or anti-social behaviour.

Since the High Sheriffs’ Fund came under ECF’s management in 1997 it has distributed
grants totalling over £775,000.

Andy Payne Worpole, Director of Policy and Programmes at ECF, said:

“Successive High Sheriffs work hard to raise awareness of the voluntary sector in Essex, and encourage
donations to the High Sheriff’s’ Fund. “We are pleased to support them during their year of office and, together with the monies available from our other community safety focussed funds we manage, ensure that vital funding gets out to local charities that are working hard to tackle crime and safety issues”.

The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The High Sheriff receives no expenses and the role comes at no cost to the public purse.

For more information about Essex Community Foundation and the High Sheriffs’ Fund, the Awards presented this year and to view photographs of the event visit: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Photo by Steve Brading on Flickr